The highly anticipated hush money criminal trial of former President Donald Trump is set to begin with opening statements on Monday, followed by witness testimony. A jury of seven men and five women, along with six alternates, has been selected for the trial.
The key players in this historic trial include Trump himself, who is facing allegations of falsifying his company’s records to conceal payments to his former lawyer and fixer, Michael Cohen. Cohen, once a staunch ally of Trump, is now a key prosecution witness after serving time in federal prison for campaign finance violations and other crimes.
Other notable witnesses in the trial include Stormy Daniels, a porn actor who received a payment from Cohen as part of the hush money arrangements, and Karen McDougal, a former Playboy model who alleges she had an affair with Trump in the mid-2000s.
The trial also involves David Pecker, the former publisher of the National Enquirer and a longtime friend of Trump, as well as Hope Hicks, Trump’s former White House communications director.
The prosecution team is led by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, with key prosecutors including Joshua Steinglass and Susan Hoffinger. The defense team includes prominent lawyers such as Susan Necheles and Emil Bove.
The judge presiding over the case is Juan M. Merchan, who has denied requests from Trump’s lawyers to step aside, citing his ability to be fair and impartial.
The trial is expected to be closely watched as it marks the first criminal trial of a former U.S. president. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.